A short history of non-vascular interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology can be defined as minimally invasive closed percutaneous procedures for diagnosis or treatment and guided by imaging techniques. Parallel to the development of Interventional vascularRadiology, non vascular techniques have evolved. Margulis coined the term "Interventional Radiology" describing percutaneous extraction of residual gallstones. Fluoroscopy guided biopsy of the lung and mediastinum were described in the thorax by Nordenstrom. Percutaneous approach to the bile ducts was clinically applied by Wiechel, Lunderquist and Wallace. T-Tube extraction of residual gallstones was popularized by Burhenne. Cross sectional imaging, Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography offered the indispensable anatomical precision allowing a percutaneous approach to the deeply located structures in an axial plane. Haaga and Alfidi described percutaneous tissue sampling and drainage procedures guided by CT. Holm developed Ultrasound guided drainage and Otto initiated the perforated transducer. Percutaneous drainage of fluid collections rapidly became a standard. Plastic stents were inserted percutaneously in the bile ducts by Pereiras. Percutaneous neurolysis of the coeliac plexus was described by Hegedus Direct injection of ethanol and laser ablation of liver tumors, diskectomy and tubal recanalization are other more recently developed procedures.